Afcon coach faced death threats: It’s very sad!

The 51-year-old completed a remarkable achievement by leading Sierra Leone, ranked 108th in the world, to the prestigious Afcon tournament for the first time since 1996. 

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However, he has recently opened up about the threats received about the inclusion of certain players just before confirming his 28-man Afcon squad.  

“I think it’s very, very sad that it has to come to this,” the English-born Keister told BBC Sport Africa.

“Whatever walk of life you are in, nobody deserves that. 

“I don’t think it should get to that point where my life is being threatened because people feel players should be in [the squad] – and if they are not, this is what they are going to do. 

“We have come a long way [so] there’s no reason for [the death threats]. 

“I’ve got family, I look after these boys and I have a job to do. It gets me angry and for me, where I have come from and my background, I feel there is something I need to do about it. 

“Regardless of the job, I need to do something about it.” 

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The complete 52-match schedule for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to be held in Cameroon from 9 January to 6 February can be found below.

*Afcon kick-off times all SA

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GROUP A

Sunday, 9 January

OPENING MATCH: Cameroon v Burkina Faso – 18:00

Cape Verde v Ethiopia – 21:00

Thursday, 13 January

Cameroon v Ethiopia – 18:00

Burkino Faso v Cape Verde – 21:00

Monday, 17 January

Cameroon v Cape Verde – 18:00

Burkino Faso v Ethiopia, Bafoussam – 18:00

GROUP B

(Kouekong Stadium, Bafoussam, unless noted)

Monday, 10 January

Senegal v Zimbabwe – 15:00

Guinea v Malawi – 18:00

Friday, 14 January

Guinea v Senegal – 15:00

Malawi v Zimbabwe – 16:00 

Tuesday, 18 January

Malawi v Senegal – 18:00

Guinea v Zimbabwe, Yaounde (Ahmadou Ahidjo) – 18:00  

GROUP C

(Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium, Yaounde, unless noted)

Sunday, 10 January

Ghana v Morocco – 18:00

Comoros v Gabon – 21:00

Friday, 14 January

Comoros v Morocco – 18:00

Gabon v Ghana – 21:00

Tuesday, 18 January

Gabon v Morocco – 21:00

Comoros v Ghana, Garoua– 21:00

GROUP D

(Roumde Adjia Stadium, Garoua, unless noted)

Tuesday, 11 January

Egypt v Nigeria – 18:00

Guinea-Bissau v Sudan – 21:00

Saturday, 15 January

Nigeria v Sudan – 18:00

Egypt v Guinea Bissau – 21:00

Wednesday, 19 January

Guinea Bissau v Nigeria – 21:00

Egypt v Sudan, Yaounde (Ahmadou Ahidjo) – 21:00

GROUP E

(Japoma Stadium, Douala, unless noted)

Tuesday, 11 January

Algeria v Sierra Leone – 15:00

Wednesday, 12 January

Equatorial Guinea v Ivory Coast – 21:00 

Sunday, 16 January

Ivory Coast v Sierra Leone – 18:00

Algeria v Equatorial Guinea – 21:00

Thursday, 20 January

Algeria v Ivory Coast – 18:00

Equatorial Guinea v Sierra Leone, Limbe – 18:00

GROUP F

(Limbe Stadium unless noted)

Wednesday, 12 January

Mali v Tunisia – 15:00

Gambia v Mauritania – 18:00 

Sunday, 16 January

Gambia v Mali – 15:00

Mauritania v Tunisia – 18:00

Thursday, 20 January

Gambia v Tunisia – 21:00

Mali v Mauritania, Douala – 21:00

Round of 16

Sunday, 23 January: (1) 2A v 2C, Limbe – 18:00; (2) 1D v 3B/E/F, Garoua – 21:00 

Monday, 24 January: (4) 2B v 2F, Bafoussam – 18:00; (3) 1A v 3C/D/E, Yaounde (Olembe) – 21:00

Tuesday, 25 January: (5) 1B v 3A/C/D, Bafoussam – 18:00; (6) 1C v 3A/B/F, Yaounde (Ahmadou Ahidjo) – 21:00

Wednesday, 26 January: (7) 1E v 2D, Douala – 18:00; (8) 1F v 2E, Limbe – 21:00

Quarter-finals

Saturday, 29 January: (B) Winners 4 v winners 3, Douala – 18:00; (A) winners 1 v winners 2, Garoua – 21:00

Sunday, 30 January: (C) Winners 7 v winners 6, Yaounde (Olembe) – 18:00; (D) winners 5 v winners 8, Douala – 21:00

Semi-finals

Wednesday, 2 February: Winners A v winners D, Douala – 19:00

Thursday, 3 February: Winners B v winners C, Yaounde (Olembe) – 19:00

Third place

Sunday, 6 February

Losing semi-finalists, Yaounde (Ahmadou Ahidjo) – 18:00

Afcon final

Sunday, 6 February

Winning semi-finalists, Yaounde (Olembe) – 21:00